A certified French social enterprise (ESUS), Simplon.co is a network of “factories” (schools) offering free digital training certificate programmes to people who are disadvantaged or underrepresented in digital entrepreneurship and web/mobile programming: young women, people from working class or rural areas and foreign nationals. No prior degree is required to receive training.

Over 20 factories in France deliver training in the technical side of digital (skills for website and mobile app developers, integrators, “datartisans”, e-retailers etc), as these skills are in high demand on the job market. In addition, the factories provide support to entrepreneurs with innovative digital projects.

Simplon.co also coordinates initiatives like “Europe Code Week” and “Africa Code Week”, so that everyone can learn computer programming, including children.

Types of support

Simplon.co took part in season 1 of Villa Bonne Nouvelle. Orange also supports factories in France and abroad: its members take part in hackathons and datathons while using the Group’s APIs and data.